He's working that lightsaber

Star Wars- Empire Strikes Back by Victo Ngai

Is this really Billy the Kid?

If I could meet one person, historical or current, it would be Billy the Kid (1859-1881).  I'd ask the Irish immigrant-turned New Mexico cattle regulator-turned outlaw about his upbringing in New York, his recollections of his mother (who died from TB when he was young), his aims for life as a young man, his relationship with John Tunstall and New Mexico's Mexican community, how he coped with being slight of build in such a volatile environment, his escapes from Silver City's jail and Lincoln's courthouse, and what he thinks of his death and his Wild West legacy.

If you're a Billy the Kid fan, you know there's only one verified photo of the gunslinger who was killed at age 21.  The tintype, taken in 1879 or 1880 in Fort Sumner, shows a scruffy, bucktoothed Billy with his Winchester rifle and Colt revolver.  He presented the picture to his close friend Dan Dedrick (and reportedly gave another to his girlfriend, Paulita Maxwell).  This grainy tintype earned a whopping $23 million at auction in 2011.

Old West historians and Billy the Kid fans are abuzz again over a newly surfaced tintype that forensic scientists believe features dark-haired Dan Dedrick and William H. Bonney together.  The two lads are shown in white shirts and combed hair.  Could this really be Billy the Kid?  One thing I immediately notice are the eyes of the possible Billy.  Many people who knew him commented on his remarkable blue eyes.  In the new photo, his eyes indeed appear unique and brilliant.  Unfortunately, we may never know if it is truly Billy the Kid.  For now, the Old West legend lives on in one grainy image and on the open trails within people's minds.

See American Experience's timeline of William H. Bonney's short and tumultuous life.

Photos via Silber Studios, Albuquerque Journal

New jewelry alert

Large wooden bracelet decoupaged with zodiac animals from an everyday Chinese restaurant placemat: Not all animals could fit on the bracelet, but auspiciously the dragon (my year) and those for my husband, parents, and brother are all on there.  I found this snappy bracelet at a consignment shop in Minnesota.

Purple wooden bracelet painted by artisans in Oaxaca, Mexico: I bought this from the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach. They have wonderful jewelry in their gift shop.

Gold "hi" earrings.  I don't usually wear gold, but these playful earrings spoke to me.  I discovered them at The Movement in Old Town Orange where my husband was buying tank tops.

"Yoo Lee" necklace.  I sent away for a personalized necklace (of my Korean middle name) from Etsy shop SpeciallyForU.  Artist Bea shipped the necklace in a pretty drawstring bag which I'm using as makeshift cell phone case.

Giving THANKS

I'm thankful for...

• My able body
• My ability to verbally communicate my wants and needs
• My parents and extended family (my brother, my dozens of cousins, and Great Aunt Doris)
• My man
• People who are thoughtful of and compassionate to animals
• People who volunteer and help those less fortunate
• My friends of all ages
• My job, and the privilege of not having to work multiple jobs
• My kind neighbors and anyone who calls out hello to me
• My car (Damn you are fun, little red car.  You are fast and lithe, and you shine like a beacon in every parking lot.)
• Clean drinking water and the ability to drink from the tap!
• Asian American Youtubers
• Jeremy Lin
• Living in a country where people can protest and demonstrate
• Seeing a variety of races when I step outside my door
• Beautiful weather in Southern California
• Mountains and the ocean
• People who do unseen grunt work in life that makes mine more comfortable and carefree
• My two white hairs and the fact I don't have a trillion of them
• My dog, Cooper

I got a smart phone (welcome to the 21st century)

I finally broke down and purchased a smart phone.  I owned one for a milisecond five years ago, but canceled my data contract because I hated paying so much to a stupid corporation.  Why pay a million dollars a month for a smart phone when I can call my mom in Minnesota to ask her a museum's hours and location?  After having the horrid experience of hitting a dog a few weeks ago, I learned how having a phone with internet access is priceless in emergencies. Now I have a smart phone (aka A PHONE, since almost no one has an old fashioned phone anymore), which means I had to choose a case.  I searched all 250 pages on Etsy and chose Radiate by Aeropagita Goods.

Ayumu Hirano: snow and steez

Ayumu Hirano (straight out of Japan) has a style of snowboarding that reminds me of Jet Li's wushu.

Best opening line to a Vietnamese restaurant review

If you're going to go to a Vietnamese restaurant outside Little Saigon, you better have a goddamn great explanation.

-Gustavo Arrellano, reviewing Long Hai Restaurant in OC Weekly

Photo via Long Hai

Year of the Horse 2014

Year of the Horse (1978, 1990, 2002, 2014) is galloping around the corner.  If you're born in the Year of the Horse, you're known to be healthy, an able manager, easy to get along with, active and animated.  Horses dislike being made to feel guilty and are known to be hot-headed. 

Pic via From Japan with Love

What my dog does NOT want for Christmas

A Chihuahua hood!

Photo courtesy of Voyagers K9 Apparel

The Goldbergs in the middle

 I've been faithfully watching The Goldbergs (and Trophy Wife, which has very witty writing) on ABC this fall.  Cut from life in the 1980s, The Goldbergs is based on the childhood of Hollywood writer Adam F. Goldberg  (Note: This is not the same Adam Goldberg who starred in Dazed and Confused, or who dated Christina Ricci.  I was dazed and confused over this for this about a week.)  Goldberg descends from a family of expressive yellers.  In addition to his vocal parents, he had two older brothers.  On The Goldbergs television show, Adam has an older sister and only one older brother named Barry (played by Troy Gentile).  Most of me wishes producers allowed Goldberg to keep his two brothers.  I love his brother Barry on so many levels!

Then I wondered if The Goldbergs stayed true to life, would it just be an 80s version of Malcolm in the Middle?  If so, I would undoubtedly still watch.

Photo via The Glossy